Method of operating a wearable lifelogging device

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure provides a method of operating a wearable life logging device ( 2 ) comprising a data processing unit ( 9 ), a camera unit ( 7 ), and at least one motion sensor ( 4, 5 ). The method comprises selectively operating the device in a take photo state ( 200 ), wherein a photo is captured by means of the camera unit ( 7 ), and selectively operating the device in a sleep state ( 300 ), wherein the camera unit ( 7 ) is in a low power mode. The method further comprises causing the device to transition ( 120, 330, 430 ) to the take photo state ( 200 ) in response to a signal from the motion sensor ( 4, 5 ).

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO ANY PRIORITY APPLICATIONS

Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claimis identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the presentapplication are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a method for lifelogging and to asystem which implements such a method.

Description of the Related Art

Lifelogging is the process of digitally lifelogging life experiences. Alifelogging system usually comprises a wearable lifelogging device whichautomatically and continuously captures the user's activities in theform of text and/or sensor data, such as image, audio or videolifeloggings which are stored and organized for future use.

People may want to log their activities for their own enjoyment, forexample for keeping a diary or being able to retrieve and share personalexperiences, including unanticipated ones, with others. Lifelogging mayalso be used for medical purposes, for example as an aid for peoplesuffering from memory impairment.

Another application for lifelogging devices is one of personal security;a lifelogging device may be used to provide evidence in the event theuser is harassed or attacked.

Yet another application is one of quality assurance; a lifeloggingdevice may be used to document the user's activity. For example a policeofficer, nurse, physician, fireman, corrections officer, keeper orcaretaker may use a lifelogging device to provide documentation of workperformed and/or as evidence against accusations of malpractice orabuse.

For a lifelog not to be inconvenient and cumbersome to produce, it isimportant that the lifelogging system be user friendly and interfere aslittle as possible with the user's daily routine. It is desirable toimprove existing lifelogging systems in these respects.

On the other hand, there remains a need to interact with the lifeloggingsystem, e.g. in order to prevent it from taking photos in situationswhen this would be inappropriate or forbidden.

There is also a need to manage battery capacity of the lifeloggingdevice such that it will have the capability of taking photos for asufficient period of time before it needs charging.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an objective to improve the user experience of lifeloggingsystems. A particular object is to provide a lifelogging system which iseasy, efficient and satisfying to use.

The invention is defined by the independent claims. Embodiments are setforth in the dependent claims and in the descriptions and drawings.

According to a first aspect, there is provided a method of operating awearable life logging device comprising a data processing unit, a cameraunit and at least one motion sensor. The method comprises selectivelyoperating the device in a take photo state, wherein a photo is capturedby means of the camera unit, and selectively operating the device in asleep state, wherein the camera unit is in a low power mode. The methodfurther comprises causing the device to transition to the take photostate in response to a signal from the motion sensor.

A lifelogging device is defined as a device which is configured forcontinuous or intermittent capture of images of the user and/or theuser's experiences. Images thus captured may be associated with dataindicating time/date and/or geographic position information for therespective image. The lifelogging device may be configured with anintegrated intermediate image and data storage device. In thealternative, the lifelogging device may be configured for onlinetransmission of image and data to a network-accessible storage device.

The operating of the device in the take photo state may further comprisereading at least the motion sensor and optionally causing the device totransition from the low power mode.

The method may further comprise causing the device to transition fromthe take photo state to the sleep state if the signal from the motionsensor is below a first threshold level or if a signal from the cameraunit represents a light level lower than a predetermined secondthreshold value.

The first threshold level may be set so as to indicate whether thedevice is stationary on a substantially flat surface or whether it is inmotion.

In one embodiment, the device may be caused to transition from the takephoto state to the sleep state if the signal from the motion sensor hasbeen below the first threshold value for a sufficient period of time orif the signal from the camera unit represents a light level lower thanthe first threshold value for a sufficient period of time.

The periods of time may be same or different.

The method may further comprise determining a gravity vector and causingthe device to transition to the sleep state only if the gravity vectoris within a predetermined range.

In this context, the term “range” is to be understood as a range ofdirections.

Hence, it is possible to determine the orientation of the device, and tocondition the transition to the sleep state on the device having aspecific orientation, such as horizontal.

The term “horizontal” should be construed as horizontal +/−10°, +/−5° or+/−1°.

In this manner, a user of the device is able to make the devicetransition to the sleep state by placing the device in a specificorientation, such as horizontal on a surface. Thereby, the device is, ina user friendly manner, prevented from taking photos in situations whenit is not appropriate. Moreover, the user and others will recognizethat, when the device is in the specific orientation, it will not takepictures.

The method may further comprise selectively operating the device in aready state, wherein the camera is active and wherein the dataprocessing unit is in a low power mode.

The method may further comprise causing the device to transition fromthe take photo state to the ready state if the signal from the motionsensor is above the first threshold value and/or if the signal from thecamera unit represents a light level higher than the second thresholdvalue.

Optionally, the transition to the sleep state may require a lower secondthreshold value than a transition to the ready state. For example, itmay be desirable to transition to sleep state only when there issubstantially no light, while remaining in ready state when there islittle light, although not sufficient to provide an acceptable photo.

The device may be caused to transition from the ready state to the takephoto state in response to a clock signal.

The clock signal may be a real time clock signal provided by a deviceclock.

The method may further comprise causing the device to transition fromthe ready state to the take photo state if the signal from the motionsensor represents a predetermined motion pattern, such as a particularsequence of motions.

The predetermined motion pattern may be composed of one or more absolutevalues, which may occur within a predetermined time period. For example,two values exceeding a predetermined threshold value and received withina predetermined time interval may be understood as a “double tap”, i.e.the user taps the device twice with his/her finger in order to triggerit to take an ad hoc photo.

The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, furthercomprising selectively operating the device in a snooze state, whereinthe device checks at least one transition indicator.

Such a transition indicator may be an indicator indicating that aparticular event has occurred, such as the device having been shaken orreceived a clock signal.

The method may further comprise causing the device to transition fromthe snooze state to the sleep state if the signal from the motion sensoris below a first threshold level or if the signal from the camera unitrepresents a light level lower than a predetermined second thresholdvalue.

The first threshold level may be set so as to indicate whether thedevice is stationary on a substantially flat surface or whether it is inmotion.

In the method, the device may be caused to transition from the snoozestate to the sleep state if the signal from the motion sensor has beenbelow the first threshold value for a sufficient period of time or ifthe signal from the camera unit represents a light level lower than thefirst threshold value for a sufficient period of time.

The periods of time may be same or different.

The method may further comprise determining a gravity vector and causingthe device to transition to the sleep state only if the gravity vectoris within a predetermined range.

Hence, it is possible to determine the orientation of the device, and tocondition the transition to the sleep state on the device having aspecific orientation, such as horizontal.

The method may further comprise causing the device to transition fromthe snooze state to the take photo state if the signal from the motionsensor exceeds the first threshold value and/or if the signal from thecamera unit represents a light level higher than the second thresholdvalue.

The method may further comprise causing the device to transition fromthe sleep state to the snooze state if the signal from the motion sensorrepresents an absolute value larger than a third threshold level.

For example, this third threshold value could be set such that it willindicate that the device is in motion, or it may be slightly higher,such that it will indicate that the device is being shaken, i.e. thatthe user deliberately shakes it to cause it to “wake up”.

The method may further comprise increasing the third threshold level ifa signal from the camera unit represents a light level higher than thepredetermined second threshold level.

Hence, it is possible to cause the camera to increase its tolerance formovements when it is too dark to take acceptable photos.

The method may further comprise causing the device to transition fromthe sleep state to the snooze state in response to a clock signal.

The method may further comprise causing the device to transition fromthe ready state to the take photo state if the signal from the motionsensor represents a predetermined motion pattern, such as a particularsequence of motions.

The method may further comprise causing the device to transition fromthe sleep state to the take photo state if the signal from the motionsensor represents a predetermined motion pattern, such as a particularsequence of motions, and/or if the signal from the motion sensor exceedsa first threshold value. Hence, the device may be caused to wake up toimmediately take a photo upon recording a predetermined motion patternand/or a sufficiently large/fast motion.

The predetermined motion pattern may be composed of one or more absolutevalues, which may occur within a predetermined time period. For example,two values exceeding a predetermined threshold value and received withina predetermined time interval may be understood as a “double tap”, i.e.the user taps the device twice with his/her finger in order to triggerit to take an ad hoc photo.

The method may further comprise that control parameters for the deviceis set by using a communication device having a first interface forcommunicating with the lifelogging device and a second interface forcommunicating with a network-based storage service.

Thereby, the user may determine settings for the lifelogging device byusing a communication device such as a Smartphone, a tablet computer, adesktop computer, a laptop computer etc which is able to controlsettings of the lifelogging device. For example, the rate at whichphotos are taken can be adjusted. Hence, a better user experience and ahigher user friendliness is achieved.

The method may further comprise sending a captured photo from the deviceto a storage device or a storage service via at least one wirelesscommunication interface. The wireless interface may, as non-limitingexamples, be a Bluetooth® interface or a WiFi interface to which thelifelogging device is connected. Another interface may be a wiredinterface, such as an electronic or optical fiber based interface, or awireless interface, such as a cellular phone/data based interface.

The photo taken by the lifelogging device may be a single photo, asequence of photos or a video sequence.

According to a second aspect, there is provided a wearable lifeloggingdevice comprising a data processing unit, a camera unit, and at leastone motion sensor. The device is configured to perform the methoddescribed above.

The lifelogging device may have a front face (i.e. the face with cameralens) which is designed such that when placing the device face down on ahorizontal surface, the amount of light reaching the camera lens will besufficiently low for the camera to detect a light level lower than thefirst threshold value. For example, the camera may have a substantiallyplanar front surface, with the camera lens being flush with, orretracted from, the front surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of components of a lifeloggingsystem.

FIGS. 2a-2c are schematic illustrations of different configurations of alifelogging system.

FIG. 3 is a state diagram, which schematically illustrates operation ofthe lifelogging device 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 illustrates schematically components of a lifelogging system 1.The system 1 comprises a wearable lifelogging device 2 which has aweather protected housing 3 which encloses a GPS unit 4, anaccelerometer 5, a timer 6 (which may have the form of a real-time clock(RTC)), a camera 7, a storage device 8 which may comprise volatile andnon-volatile memory, a CPU 9, a rechargeable battery 10, a communicationinterface 11 and a user interface 12. A clip 13 is arranged on theoutside of the housing. The system 1 also comprises a firstcommunication device 20 which has interfaces 21 and 22 for communicatingwith the lifelogging device 2 and a network-based storage service 30,respectively. The first communication device 20 can have a controller 23and a charger 24. The network-based storage service 30 may comprise astorage service 31 and a computing service 32. The network-based storageservice 30 may also be connected to a second communication device 40 viathe latter's interface 41. The second communication device 40 alsocomprises application software 42.

Dashed lines represent connections 50, 51 and 52 between the componentsof the lifelogging system 1.

When a user wears the lifelogging device 2, for example by attaching itto a piece of clothing or a necklace, the camera 7 may be preset toautomatically take two photographs a minute. It is also possible toallow the user to trigger the camera to take a photograph by performinga predetermined gesture, such as tapping the camera once, twice or threetimes within a predetermined time period and possibly in a predetermineddirection.

When the lifelogging device takes a photo it may be a single photograph,a sequence of photos or a video sequence. A video sequence normallymeans a frame rate of more than 20 frames per second, whereas a sequenceof photos may have a frame rate between 1 and 20 frames per second. Asingle photo refers to photos with a frame rate less than 1 frame persecond, preferably on the order of one frame every 5-240 seconds, morepreferably on the order of one frame every 20-120 seconds.

The CPU 9 may be programmed to stop taking photographs, power off and/orcause the camera 7 to hibernate or go into a low-power mode (e.g. byturning off one or more other sensors), if it receives a predeterminedsensor signal from the camera indicating that the photograph is darkerthan a predetermined level.

The CPU 9 may also be programmed to stop taking photographs, power offand/or cause the camera 7 to hibernate or go into a low-power mode (e.g.by turning off one or more other sensors), if it receives a sensorsignal from the accelerometer 5 indicating that the lifelogging device 2has moved less than a predetermined amount during a predetermined amountof time.

With each photograph, the CPU 9 may associate location data from the GPSunit 4, orientation data from the accelerometer 5 and time (optionallyincluding date) data from the timer 6. The image, location, orientationand time data of the photograph are stored in non-volatile memory on thestorage device 8 and transferred via the first communication device 20to the storage service 31 of the network-based storage service 30 when aconnection 50 is established between the lifelogging device 2 and thefirst communication device 20. The transfer may occur during charging ofthe battery 10 by the charger 24 and the storage may be encrypted.

The first communication device 20 may be a docking station, aSmartphone, a tablet computer, a desktop computer or a laptop computer.

The connection 50, which connects the lifelogging device 2 to the firstcommunication device 20 via the interfaces 11 and 21, may be a wiredconnection, such as a micro-USB or USB connection, or a wirelessconnection, such as a wireless LAN, Bluetooth®, NFC, IR, CDMA, GSM, 3Gor 4G connection.

The protocol used for communication between the lifelogging device 2 andthe first communication device 20 may be the USB mass storage deviceprotocol or a device-specific protocol. A device-specific protocol maycomprise features making communication possible only between a specificlifelogging device 2 and a specific communication device 20, which wouldmake it more difficult for an unauthorized person to retrieve the datastored on the lifelogging device 2.

The connection 51, which connects the first communication device 20 tothe network-based storage service 30 via the interface 22, may be awired connection, such as a wired LAN connection, or a wirelessconnection, such as wireless LAN, CDMA, GSM, 3G or 4G connection.

The protocol used for communication between the first communicationdevice 20 and the network-based storage service 30 may be TCP/IP, HTTP,HTTPS, SSL and TLS.

The network-based storage service 30 may be a REST service.

The computing service 32 of the network-based storage service 30 mayanalyze and organize the photographs based on its image, location,orientation and/or time data. The photographs may be organized on atimeline and into groups of photographs fulfilling certain criteria,such as being from the same surroundings. The criteria may be userdefined and the colors of the images may be used to determine whichphotographs were taken in the same surroundings. The photographs may beanalyzed and their relevance assessed using criteria based on, forexample, motion blur, contrast, composition, light, face recognition andobject recognition. A group of photographs fulfilling certain criteriamay be analyzed in order to select a photograph which is particularlyrepresentative, according to some criteria, of that group ofphotographs. The selected photograph may be used to give the user arough idea of what the photographs in the group of photographs areshowing and when they were taken.

The user can use a second communication device 40, for example aSmartphone, a tablet computer, a desktop computer or a laptop computer,to access the photographs and to set control parameters for thelifelogging device 2, the network-based storage service 30 and the firstcommunication device 20.

Control parameters may, for example, determine the image capture rateand the time dependence of the image capture rate. For example, a usermay set a higher image capture rate during a certain time period of acertain day. Control parameters may also determine whether a photographstored on storage device 31 can be accessed by other users.

The user may use the second communication device 40 to perform computingfunctions of the computing service 32. A computing function may be photoediting.

The application software 42, which, for example, can be a web browser oran application for smart phones or tablet computers, may be used toperform the computing functions and to set control parameters.

The connection 52, which connects the second communication device 40 tothe network-based storage service 30 via the interface 41, may be awired connection, such as a wired LAN connection, or a wirelessconnection, such as a wireless LAN, CDMA, GSM, 3G or 4G connection.

The protocol used for communication between the second communicationdevice 40 and the network-based storage service 30 may be TCP/IP, HTTP,HTTPS, SSL and TLS.

The network-based storage service 30 may send push notifications to thesecond communication device 40, for example when photographs taken bythe lifelogging device 2 have been transferred to the network-basedstorage service 30.

The network-based storage service 30 may send data to and receive datafrom devices which are not a part of the lifelogging system 2. Forexample, data captured by the GPS unit 4 may be sent to a third-partywhich analyses the data and sends the coordinates represented by thedata to the network-based storage service 30. The network-based storageservice 30 may send and receive data, for example image data, to othernetwork-based services, for example social-networking services.

FIG. 2a illustrates schematically a lifelogging system 1 in which thelifelogging device 2 is configured to send image, location, orientationand time data to a first communication device 20 over a connection 50which may be a wired connection, such as a micro-USB, USB or wired LANconnection, or a wireless connection, such as a wireless LAN, Bluetooth,NFC, IR, CDMA, GSM, 3G or 4G connection. The protocol used forcommunicating over the connection 50 may be the USB mass storage deviceprotocol, TCP/IP, HTTP, HTTPS, SSL or TSL or a device-specific protocol.

The first communication device 20 may be a docking station, aSmartphone, a tablet computer, a desktop computer or a laptop computer.

The first communication device 20 is configured to send the image,location, orientation and time data to the network-based storage service30 over a connection 51 which may be a wired connection, such as a wiredLAN connection, or a wireless connection, such as wireless LAN, CDMA,GSM, 3G or 4G connection. The protocol used for communicating over theconnection 51 may be TCP/IP, HTTP, HTTPS, SSL or TSL.

A user can access the data stored on the network-based storage service30 through a second communication device 40 which is also configured tosend control parameters to the network-based storage service 30 over aconnection 52. The connection 52 may be a wired connection, such as awired LAN connection, or a wireless connection, such as a wireless LAN,CDMA, GSM, 3G or 4G connection. The protocol used for communicating overthe connection 52 may be TCP/IP, HTTP, HTTPS, SSL or TSL.

The control parameters sent by the second communication device 40 maycomprise control parameters for the network-based storage service 30,the first communication device 20 and the wearable lifelogging device 2.The network-based storage service 30 transfers, over the connection 51,control parameters to the first communication device 20 which, in turn,transfers the control parameters to the wearable lifelogging device 2over the connection 50.

FIG. 2b illustrates schematically a lifelogging system 1 in which awearable lifelogging device 2 is configured to communicate directly witha second communication device 40 and a network-based storage service 30over connections 53 and 54, respectively.

The second communication device 40 may be a Smartphone, a tabletcomputer, a desktop computer or a laptop computer.

The connection 53 may be a wired connection, such as a wired LANconnection, or a wireless connection, such as a wireless LAN, CDMA, GSM,3G or 4G connection. The protocol used for communicating over theconnection 53 may be TCP/IP, HTTP, HTTPS, SSL or TSL.

The connection 54 which may be a wired connection, such as a micro-USB,USB or wired LAN connection, or a wireless connection, such as awireless LAN, Bluetooth, NFC, IR, CDMA, GSM, 3G or 4G connection. Theprotocol used for communicating over the connection 54 may be the USBmass storage device protocol, TCP/IP, HTTP, HTTPS, SSL or TSL or adevice-specific protocol.

If a first communication device 20 is provided, the lifelogging device 2may also communicate with the first communication device 20 which may beconfigured to communicate with the network-based storage service 30.

The first communication device 20 may be a docking station, aSmartphone, a tablet computer, a desktop computer or a laptop computer.

The first communication device 20 may communicate with the belifelogging device 2 over a wired connection, such as a micro-USB, USBor wired LAN connection, or a wireless connection, such as a wirelessLAN, Bluetooth, NFC, IR, CDMA, GSM, 3G or 4G connection. The protocolused for communicating may be the USB mass storage device protocol,TCP/IP, HTTP, HTTPS, SSL or TSL or a device-specific protocol.

The first communication device 20 may communicate with the network-basedstorage service 30 over a wired connection, such as a wired LANconnection, or a wireless connection, such as a wireless LAN, CDMA, GSM,3G or 4G connection. The protocol used for communicating may be TCP/IP,HTTP, HTTPS, SSL or TSL.

FIG. 2c illustrates schematically a lifelogging system 1 in which awearable lifelogging device 2 and a network-based storage service 30 areconfigured to communicate over a connection 53 which may be a wiredconnection, such as a wired LAN connection, or a wireless connection,such as a wireless LAN, CDMA, GSM, 3G or 4G connection. The protocolused for communicating over the connection 53 may be TCP/IP, HTTP,HTTPS, SSL or TSL.

Communication also occurs between the network-based storage device 30and a communication device 40 over a connection 52 which may be a wiredconnection, such as a wired LAN connection, or a wireless connection,such as a wireless LAN, CDMA, GSM, 3G or 4G connection. The protocolused for communicating over the connection 52 may be TCP/IP, HTTP,HTTPS, SSL or TSL.

The communication device 40 may be a Smartphone, a tablet computer, adesktop computer or a laptop computer.

Referring to FIG. 3, a method of operating the wearable lifeloggingdevice will now described.

The method may be implemented in a finite state machine.

The device may be operable in four different states. In a ready state100, the camera may be active in the sense that it can provide a signalindicating at least an amount of light received at the camera's imagesensor, while the remainder of the device is in a low power mode. In thelow power mode, one or more parts of the device may not be active, ormay be active but operating at a lower clock frequency as compared tonormal operation.

The device may further be operable in a take photo state 200, whereinthe device wakes up from the low power mode, the camera takes a photoand optionally all sensors (e.g. accelerometer, GPS sensor, etc.) areread.

The device may further be operable in a sleep state 300, wherein theentire device is in a low power mode. In this mode, the real time clockmay be active to provide a clock signal, as may those parts of thedevice necessary to determine whether the clock signal meets a criterionfor a transition to take place.

The device may further be operable in a snooze state 400, wherein thedevice checks whether it should wake up (i.e. transition to the takephoto state).

The device may further be said to be operable in two modes: active mode,where the device shifts 110, 120, 230 between the ready state 100 andthe take photo state 200 and a sleep mode, where the device shifts 310,320, 410, 420 between the sleep state 300 and the snooze state 400.

From the ready state 100, the following transitions may take place.

On receipt of a signal from the clock, the device may transition 110 tothe take photo state 200. This may be the case where the device is innormal operation, i.e. takes photos at predetermined intervals, such astwo photos per minute, etc.

On detection of a specific movement or sequence of movements by themotion sensor or the GPS sensor, the device may transition 120 to thetake photo state 200. This may be the case where the device is arrangeto detect the user tapping on the device with his/her finger in order totrigger the device to take an ad hoc photo. Hence, in this specificexample, the motion sensor would sense two or more accelerationsexceeding a particular threshold value within a predetermined timeperiod, such as 1-3 seconds. Optionally the durations of theaccelerations may be very short, hence indicating that the device didnot move too much, e.g. that it moved less than 10 cm or less than 5 cmas a consequence of the tapping.

From the take photo state 200, the following transitions may take place.

When detecting that the device is placed stationary and optionally witha specific orientation, such as horizontally, the device may transition210 to the sleep state 300. In this case, the device may detect anacceleration vector which is below a first threshold value T1 (thusindicating that the device is stationary) and optionally also anacceleration vector, which may indicate that the device has been given aspecific orientation, such as flat (with front or back side down) on asurface. This condition may be referred to as a “flat surfacedetection”. This transition 210 may be conditioned on the device havingthe specific orientation during a predetermined time period, such ase.g. 15, 30 or 45 seconds or 1-5 minutes.

Similarly, when the camera receives light below a predetermined secondthreshold value T2, the device may transition 220 to the sleep state300. This transition may be referred to as a “low light detection”. Thistransition 220 may also be conditioned on the device receiving the lowlevel of light during a predetermined time period, such as e.g. 15, 30or 45 seconds or 1-5 minutes.

If, when in the take photo state 200, neither flat surface nor low lightis detected, the device may transition 230 to the ready state 100.

From the sleep state 300, the following transitions may take place.

When detecting an absolute value larger than a third threshold value T3,the device may transition 310 to the snooze state 400. The thirdthreshold value T3 may be a value indicating that the user isdeliberately shaking the device in order for it to wake up. Hence, anabsolute value of an accelerometer signal may be used. The thirdthreshold value T3 may typically be higher than the first thresholdvalue T1, since that value merely distinguishes movement fromstationary. In addition it is possible to set a flag F1 to indicate thata “wake up on shake” event has occurred.

The device may also transition 320 from the sleep state 300 to thesnooze state based on a clock signal. This may be the case where thedevice is in normal operation, i.e. takes photos at predeterminedintervals, such as two photos per minute, etc.

The device may also transition 330 from the sleep state 300 on detectionof a specific movement or sequence of movements by the motion sensor orthe GPS sensor, this procedure may be substantially the same as thetransition 120 to the take photo state 200 described above. Hence, aninterrupt could be provided by the motion sensor, which may immediatelycause the device to transition 330 from the sleep state 300 to the takephoto state 200, without going through the snooze state 400.

From the snooze state 400, the following transitions may take place.

When detecting that the device is placed stationary and optionally witha specific orientation, as described above with respect to thetransition 210, the device may transition 410 to the sleep state 300.

Similarly, when detecting a low light condition, the device maytransition 420 to the sleep state 300, as described above with respectto the transition 220 to the sleep state.

If the “wake up on shake” flag F1 is set, thus implying that the devicehas been shaken, and the light level is too low, the device may increasethe third threshold value T3, thus making the device less sensitive toshaking, and then clear the “wake up on shake” flag F1.

If neither flat surface nor low light is detected, the device maytransition 430 to the take photo state 200. In this case, the thirdthreshold value T3 may be reset, i.e. to normal sensitivity to shaking,and the “wake up on shake” flag F1 may be cleared.

It would be possible to provide a separate light sensor in or near thecamera opening, which would enable detection of sufficient light levelwithout making use of the camera. This could be an option for furtherreducing the battery consumption.

What is claimed is:
 1. A camera configured to automatically captureimages, the camera comprising: a housing comprising: a battery; an imagesensor; a memory; and one or more hardware processors connected with theimage sensor and the memory; and a clip configured to be attachedoutside of the housing, wherein the clip is further configured to securethe housing to an object; wherein the one or more hardware processorsare further configured to: receive a first test image data from theimage sensor at a first time; apply rules corresponding to picturequality on the received first test image data; automatically determinewhether to capture additional image data for a time period from thefirst time and store the additional image data in the memory based onthe application of rules indicating that the first test image data meetscriteria for storing additional image data in the memory; receive asecond test image data from the image sensor at a second time; apply therules corresponding to picture quality on the received second test imagedata; and automatically turn off one or more components included in thehousing based on the application of rules on the received second testimage data indicating that conditions are not appropriate for capturingphotos.
 2. The camera of claim 1, wherein the one or more hardwareprocessors are further configured to capture a video sequence.
 3. Thecamera of claim 1, wherein the application of rules comprises detectinga light level in the received image data.
 4. The camera of claim 1,wherein the application of rules comprises detecting blur in thereceived image data.
 5. The camera of claim 1, wherein the applicationof rules comprises detecting a face in the received image data.
 6. Thecamera of claim 1, wherein the application of rules comprises detectingan object in the received image data.
 7. The camera of claim 1, whereinthe application of rules comprises detecting an orientation of a face oran object in the received image data.
 8. The camera of claim 1, whereinthe one or more hardware processors are configured to receive an inputcorresponding to a user tap and capture new image data based on thereceived input.
 9. The camera of claim 1, wherein the one or morehardware processors are further configured to automatically select aphotograph based on selection rules, wherein the selected photograph isrepresentative of the additional image data.
 10. A method ofautomatically capturing images in a camera, wherein the camera comprisesa battery, an image sensor, a memory, and one or more hardwareprocessors, the method comprising: receiving image data from an imagesensor at a first time; applying rules corresponding to picture qualityon the received image data; and automatically determining whether tostore the received image data in the memory based on the application ofrules, wherein the application of rules comprise detecting a light leveldirectly from first test image data captured from the image sensor; andautomatically turning off one or more components included in the housingbased on the application of rules on the received image data indicatingthat conditions are not appropriate for capturing photos.
 11. The methodof claim 10, further comprising determining capture of additional imagedata from the image sensor for a period of time from the first timebased on the application of the rules on the received image data,thereby capturing a video sequence.
 12. The method of claim 10, furthercomprising stopping capture of additional image data from the imagesensor based on the application of rules, thereby conserving thebattery.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the application of rulescomprises detecting blur in the received image data.
 14. The method ofclaim 10, wherein the application of rules comprises detecting a face inthe received image data.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein theapplication of rules comprises detecting an orientation of a face or anobject in the received image data.
 16. A camera configured toautomatically capture images, the camera comprising: a housingcomprising: a battery; an image sensor configured to detect image data;a memory; and one or more hardware processors connected with the imagesensor and the memory; wherein the one or more hardware processors arefurther configured to determine whether to store the detected image datain the memory based on an application of rules corresponding to picturequality on the detected image data and determine whether toautomatically turn off one or more components included in the housingbased on the application of rules on the received image data indicatingthat conditions are not appropriate for capturing photos.
 17. The cameraof claim 16, wherein the one or more hardware processors are furtherconfigured to automatically stop detecting image data from the imagesensor based on the application of rules, thereby conserving thebattery.
 18. The camera of claim 16, wherein the one or more hardwareprocessors are further configured to automatically determine storage ofadditional image data from the image sensor for a period of time basedon the application of the rules on the received image data, therebycapturing a video sequence.
 19. The camera of claim 16, wherein theapplication of rules comprises detecting a light level in the receivedimage data.
 20. The camera of claim 16, wherein the application of rulescomprises detecting a face in the received image data.